From a Job Offer in a Bourbon Lounge to Sleeping in a Car
Or: From heaven to hell in under a year
I woke up with an ache in my neck. I couldn’t feel my feet. Goosebumps lined my arms. I could see the fog of my breath in front of me.
The two blankets on top of me offered only slim comfort and faint warmth.
Looking out the backseat window of my car, I could see the hotel. The one I’d been sleeping in. I could imagine the soft bed, the heater next to the window, and the hot shower.
But that night, my body crammed itself into the back of my car.
There would be no hot shower, no easy access to a toilet, no extra pillows.
While I’d been driving for Uber Eats to earn money, I didn’t have enough to pay for another night.
I did have a bottle of cheap bourbon, some water, and a box of snack cakes that had been marked down at the nearby grocery store.
I made my way to the front seat and turned the car on. Since I was awake, I might as well drive to the gas station and use the bathroom.
I guess I never thought about how cold a November night could be until then.
I drove back to the hotel parking lot. My car was familiar since I’d been staying there for over a…
